The main opposition party in Zimbabwe, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), is pinning its hopes on the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Harare to resolve the contentious outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zanu PF was declared the winner of the August 2023 polls, a result that former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has consistently claimed was rigged.
SADC Summit: A Beacon of Hope for Zimbabwe
CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi emphasized the importance of the SADC Summit in addressing the electoral dispute. According to Mkwananzi, the 2023 harmonized elections were marred by fraud, and the current government is illegitimate. He called on SADC to mediate and facilitate a political dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa to restore legitimacy and stability in Zimbabwe.
“It is common cause that the August 2023 harmonized elections were fraudulently flawed and did not produce a legitimate and outright winner. This is acknowledged by all election observer missions, including SADC. This means that the government currently in place in Zimbabwe is illegitimate and not properly constituted in terms of the laws of the country; it is a de facto government,” Mkwananzi said.
He also pointed out the capture of independent bodies by the ruling party, alleging that these bodies have been weaponized against citizens. The unlawful recall of CCC parliamentary and local government representatives has further delegitimized the current Parliament, according to Mkwananzi.
Political and Institutional Illegitimacy
The CCC’s stance is that Zimbabwe suffers from political and institutional illegitimacy due to the disputed presidency of Mnangagwa, the captured judiciary, and a compromised executive. Mkwananzi called for the reinstatement of lawfully elected officials and the removal of imposters imposed by Sengezo Tshabangu and others in connivance with Zanu PF.
“The weaponization and capture of the judiciary and the disputed presidency of Mr. Mnangagwa means that Zimbabwe now suffers political and institutional illegitimacy. The three key institutions of the State, namely the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Legislature, have been bastardized and delegitimized,” Mkwananzi stated.
When approached for comment, Tshabangu dismissed the notion that the SADC Summit would address the election dispute, emphasizing that the agenda is set by SADC itself. He focused on enhancing the effectiveness of MPs in Parliament rather than engaging in the CCC’s political battles.
As the SADC Summit approaches, the CCC remains hopeful that regional leaders will take decisive action to resolve Zimbabwe’s political crisis. Moreover, the opposition party insists that dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa is the only viable solution to the impasse. The upcoming summit presents a critical opportunity for SADC to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles and regional stability.
Source: New Zimbabwe
